Health club to open at Santa Rosa Mall

Published: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 04:47 PM.

Planet Fitness, one of the largest health club chains in the country, has signed a 10-year lease for a 19,000-square-foot space. It will be the company’s first club in the Fort Walton Beach/Mary Esther area.

“We really like the market. Our whole concept is the judgment-free zone, a non-intimidating market, the health club for the average person,” said Eric Dore, managing partner for Planet Fitness. “Nothing against the body-building crowd, but there’s enough gyms for them. We cater more toward the average user, your ready-to-be-fit person.”

Planet Fitness will be located next to JCPenny and is considered a junior anchor for the mall. It will take over FYE’s original location before it moved across from Old Navy.

The space has been vacant since 2006.

“A lot of people tend not to think that the mall is a good location, but it depends on some variables,” said David Hochstadt, who negotiated the lease. “In our case, we’re basically on the side of the mall that faces Mary Esther Boulevard and our entrance will be outside the mall rather than inside.

“It will do very well over there. It’s a great location,” Hochstadt said.

Dore said Planet Fitness is expected to open Feb. 17. The gym will start with 80 pieces of cardio equipment along with weights, massage chairs and tables and tanning booths. About $2 million is being spent on the equipment and renovations to the space.

Signups will start Monday at the mall. People can join by paying a $1 deposit from their first month’s membership of $10 or $20, depending on the package they choose.

Because the Planet Fitness will have an outside entrance, it will keep its own hours. It will be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published
without permission. Links are encouraged.

Planet Fitness, one of the largest health club chains in the country, has signed a 10-year lease for a 19,000-square-foot space. It will be the company’s first club in the Fort Walton Beach/Mary Esther area.

“We really like the market. Our whole concept is the judgment-free zone, a non-intimidating market, the health club for the average person,” said Eric Dore, managing partner for Planet Fitness. “Nothing against the body-building crowd, but there’s enough gyms for them. We cater more toward the average user, your ready-to-be-fit person.”

Planet Fitness will be located next to JCPenny and is considered a junior anchor for the mall. It will take over FYE’s original location before it moved across from Old Navy.

The space has been vacant since 2006.

“A lot of people tend not to think that the mall is a good location, but it depends on some variables,” said David Hochstadt, who negotiated the lease. “In our case, we’re basically on the side of the mall that faces Mary Esther Boulevard and our entrance will be outside the mall rather than inside.

“It will do very well over there. It’s a great location,” Hochstadt said.

Dore said Planet Fitness is expected to open Feb. 17. The gym will start with 80 pieces of cardio equipment along with weights, massage chairs and tables and tanning booths. About $2 million is being spent on the equipment and renovations to the space.

Signups will start Monday at the mall. People can join by paying a $1 deposit from their first month’s membership of $10 or $20, depending on the package they choose.

Because the Planet Fitness will have an outside entrance, it will keep its own hours. It will be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.